Stormont Vail Health Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer Kent Palmberg, M.D., announced today his plans to retire later this year. Palmberg, who has been with Stormont Vail Health since it merged with Cotton O’Neil in 1995, and with Cotton O’Neil since 1978, will spend much of 2016 transitioning. His official last day is yet to be determined.
“Dr. Palmberg’s contributions to this organization and to health care in this community are enormous,” said Stormont Vail Health President and CEO Randy Peterson. “He is a pioneer who understands the business of health care but has never lost sight of the number one priority of taking care of people. He will be truly missed. We are happy for him and are looking forward to celebrating his contributions and accomplishments in the coming months.”
Dr. Palmberg has been at the forefront of many advances in health care access in Topeka and across the region, including engineering with others more than 20 years ago the merger between Stormont Vail and the Cotton O’Neil Clinic to create the model, regional integrated health care system that exists today. And impressively, Dr. Palmberg has recruited more than 350 physicians to the area.
Some of Palmberg’s other accomplishments include leading the startup of the state’s first hospitalist program, and developing Stormont Vail Health’s trauma program and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In the community, Dr. Palmberg has received numerous accolades. He was inducted into the Topeka Business Hall of Fame in 2011. He received the Philanthropic Leadership Award from the Topeka Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2015 and the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award from the Kansas Hospital Association in 2007.
Peterson also announced today plans for Palmberg’s successor. “I am pleased to announce that Robert Kenagy, M.D., M.M.M., will join Stormont Vail Health as Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer on April 15, 2016.” Dr. Kenagy, a family medicine physician who was born in Wichita, Kan., most recently has served St. John Health System in Tulsa, Okla. as Senior Vice President St. John Health Network. Prior to that, he served in several leadership positions at Via Christi Health in Wichita, including President and CEO for Via Christi Clinic and Senior Vice President of Physician Services.